Michael's Notes - Thoughts On Worship, Leadership & Fitness

Worship this Sunday: 2 plus 1 = 2020

This Sunday at ClearView Church in Franklin, Tennessee, we begin a new journey: one that gives us the opportunity to accommodate more people in worship. Here are the descriptions of the service options on the ClearView campus:

 

9:30 AM

Venue 1 - The (Building A) Worship Center

A blended service that includes a variety of elements (songs of worship, prayer, hymns), focusing on connecting people with the presence of God.  The service is led by a vocal team, choir, band and on a regular basis orchestra.  The message is delivered by our pastor.

 

Venue 2 - The Chapel (Building C)

The service is described as 'more traditional' taking most of its elements of worship from the hymnal. The music elements will be accompanied by piano and led by a worship leader and supporting team.  In this venue the sermon will be presented on video screen delivered from "The Worship Center."

 

11:00 AM

Venue 1 - The Worship Center (Building A)

The worship service at this hour in the worship center is presented in the same format as the 9:30 AM time. The sermon is delivered live by our pastor.

 

How does 2 + 1 = 2020. The “Worship Center ” has the capability of seating 810 at one time and the “Chapel” can seat 400…so 810 + 810 + 400 = 2020.

 

On this Thursday here is how you can prepare and pray for worship:

Pray for the new leadership in “The Chapel”: Alexis Cruz, worship leader; John Duval, venue pastor and other leaders in ‘venue 2.” Another prayer would be for the team that leads the service in ‘venue 1.” Pray for our pastor as he puts the final touches on the sermon he will share with us. And finally pray that the people of ClearView will come expecting to meet God.  (If you were not part of the services last week it might be good to listen to the podcast of last week’s sermon. He talked specifically about how we should come into a worship venue each week.)

 

This week our pastor finishes leading us on a journey through the book of Nehemiah.  You can prepare for hearing God’s Word by reading Nehemiah Chapter 13.

 

Here are some other scriptures that also might help you prepare for worship this week at ClearView:

John 1:16,17

Psalm 68:19,20 

Ephesians 1:20-23

Psalm 146:1,2

I Corinthians 3:10,11

Something is not right...

As I was walking this morning I witnessed a scene that reminded me that we really don’t have our priorities right in this country…even in Williamson County Tennessee where I live.

 

The scene…

As I walked past a day-care I watched as a mother helped two small children from her car.  Instead of clinging to their mother, the two little girls ran with arms wide open to a day-care worker who was headed into the building.  The worker stopped and talked to the two little girls and even picked up the smallest one. It was obvious that the girls cared for the worker and it was also obvious that the worker cared for the children.

 

The part that is not right…

The story about Alex Rodriquez cheating in baseball, yet getting paid millions of dollars every year and then seeing a day-care worker loving and being loved by children and my guess is she barely makes over minimum wage. How did we get to this place?

 

I live in Williamson County, Tennessee, the richest county in Tennessee, yet the teachers in this county are not even the highest paid in the state, much less compare to the athletes who live here.

 

Why do we pay athletes so much, which places value on what they do, yet don’t reward the people who care for and educate our children the same way?

 

It is not just the athletes…that is just one example and believe me there are many more.  I even wonder sometimes if I have come to expect too much pay for the job I do each week. I really want to continue to ask that question and be willing to give beyond what I think is required and give all I can to help others. I will continue to examine my heart on this issue.